Causes of Hair Thinning

Hair thinning is a common problem that causes hair loss or thinning of hair. It is often a result of immune damage or poor nutrition. 

While some men may experience hair thinning as a result of genetics, many others find themselves fighting a wide range of conditions to keep their hair. The American Journal of Transplantation estimates that up to 70% of hair loss is due to health conditions including chemotherapy.

The most common causes of hair thinning are:

1. An imbalance in hormones 
2. A nutrient deficiency 
3. An autoimmune disease 
4. Cancer treatments (chemotherapy) 
5. Stress or poor nutrition

Clumps of hair in the shower, drainage from your hair, scalp sores or discolouration are some of the symptoms you might experience if you're experiencing hair loss. However, it's important to note that not all cases of hair loss are caused by major health concerns. For example, male or female pattern baldness can be attributed to genetics and lifestyle choices. One way to tell the difference between male pattern baldness and other causes of thinning is through a scalp biopsy.

There are two types of hair loss:

1) Androgenetic Alopecia or Androgenic Alopecia is more commonly known as male-pattern baldness and it’s the most common form of hair loss where the hair follicles gradually shrink until they disappear causing hair to fall out, the new hairs that grow are thinner and finer than the original ones.

2) Telogen Effluvium is where a large number of hair follicles enter into a resting state. This can be caused by stress and even by medical conditions such as thyroid disease or pregnancy.

Hair thinning can have a major psychological impact if left untreated. Losing hair can make you feel unattractive, insecure and even more self-conscious. The good news is that there are numerous ways to treat hair thinning, so you can minimise and even stop hair loss.

6 Effective Treatments for Hair Thinning

It is important to address hair thinning as early as possible. This article is meant to provide valuable information on different treatment options for hair thinning.

Here are 6 hair thinning treatments:

1. Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a lotion to grow new hairs and increase the growth of existing hairs. There are many other names for it, such as Rogaine, Regain and Loniten. Minoxidil was originally used to treat high blood pressure. The benefit of using minoxidil for hair though is that it also increases the regrowth of hair by promoting the nourishment of the scalp. It is found to be effective for restoring hair growth for both men and women. 

The benefits of Minoxidil include:

• It has the ability to thicken hair roots & follicles.
• It is found to be effective for restoring hair growth in men and women who suffer from Androgenetic Alopecia.
• It reduces Hair loss & promotes new hair growth.
• It also prevents further hair loss in men with Androgenetic Alopecia and restores the hairline.
• It has been reported to have positive effects on scalp conditions such as dryness, itching, inflammation and redness which are associated with common scalp conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis and dandruff.
• It helps in preventing the underlying cause of hair loss.

2. Finasteride

When people have been diagnosed with male pattern baldness, they have a few options for hair thinning treatment. Two of the most popular solutions are minoxidil and finasteride. Both are safe, affordable, and effective at preventing hair loss.

Finasteride is a prescription medication that can be taken orally. You may have to take finasteride for months before you see results and you will lose new hair if you stop taking it.

3. Microneedling

When you think about a treatment designed to stimulate natural hair growth, micro-needling is not the first modality that comes to mind. However, there is some preliminary evidence that suggests this popular skin rejuvenation treatment may be just what the doctor ordered for hair loss.

The most apparent benefit of micro-needling is stimulating collagen production which reduces the appearance of stretch marks as well as scars and even out skin tone. Collagen is also important in the process of wound healing, tissue regeneration, and renewal. When you combine these benefits with the fact that scarring can impair hair growth by inhibiting dermal papilla cells, it's easy to see why so many experts are touting micro-needling as a potential solution to hair loss.

Microneedling has become an increasingly popular hair thinning treatment. It is a minimally invasive non-surgical treatment with an excellent safety profile. The procedure involves the use of tiny needles that create hundreds of microscopic punctures into the scalp, stimulating the body's natural healing response.

The needles are used in a set pattern and depth to effectively improve the appearance of thinning hair, resulting in a thicker fuller-looking head of hair.

4. Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma injections for hair thinning is a promising yet advanced treatment method and requires proper training, special equipment and expertise.

It is an emerging treatment for hair restoration that utilises the patient's own blood platelets to help promote hair growth. The PRP treatment involves taking a sample of the patient's blood and separating the platelet-rich plasma (PRP). The remaining solution contains growth factors, which are injected into areas of the scalp that have thinning hair.

Details - The procedure itself is relatively simple and does not require any anaesthesia. First, the medical professional extracts some blood from the patient and centrifuges it for about 15 minutes. This process spins the blood at a rapid rate in order to separate it into layers.

Afterwards, the upper layer containing platelets is extracted from the rest of the blood and injected into the area of thinning hair. The platelets contain many proteins and growth factors, which kickstart the body's natural healing abilities.

5. Hair Transplant

A hair transplant is a type of surgery that can give you lasting results. A surgeon removes individual hair or a strip of skin with hair from one part of your scalp and then transplants them to thinning areas. The surgery takes 4-8 hours. You need to discuss with your dermatologist to find out if this treatment is right for you.

6. Low-Level Laser Therapy

Research suggests that low-level laser therapy may help with male-pattern baldness, alopecia areata, hair loss from chemotherapy & side effects of hair transplant. You may need to get low-level laser therapy several times a week for months before you notice new hair growth.

Take Away

We’re not all born with thick, luscious locks. A lot of people are actually born with thin and fine hair that tends to fall out easily. The main culprits of hair thinning are genetics and poor diet. Simply put, if your parents were genetically programmed to lose their hair early in life, chances are, you will be too. However, this is not always the case. You may have inherited their blonde locks, but the genes that cause balding skipped a generation.